The working language will be Russian, with consecutive interpretation to English

More than three years after the annexation of Crimea, the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) and the Europeum Institute for European Policy jointly organise the event Muted voices of dissent: the end of media pluralism in Crimea, with twoprominent journalists and activists from the region.

Right after the annexation of Crimea in March 2014, the media environment in the peninsula started to deteriorate. The Russian occupation has thoroughly changed the previously pluralistic media landscape in the region, putting pressure on ethnic media and banning Ukrainian and Tatar newspapers. Freelancers and independent voices have been subjected to constant attacks, beatings and detentions, while the number of media has decreased by 88%, according to local media specialists, resulting in a single-voiced media environment and in the violation of the freedom of speech.

Discussions will look at the state of freedom of speech and its violation in Crimea, as well as the situation of the media landscape and aim to answer the following questions:
– How has the annexation affected the media environment in the peninsula?
– Who are the victims of the violation of freedom of speech?